Ty Korrigan

Ah.. I am currently cloning myself at great expense in order to work hard enough to meet the demands of the French tax system which charges you whether you earn or not. Ty

Morning, It how you sell your services that can determine the usefulness of a wee chipper. In larger gardens there is often a place for wood chip and rakings. I can turn up just with a small van and trailer or just a transit type van and ramps although you need 2 to load into a van. We regularly do large jobs with the CS100 and are in dire need of a bigger machine but the wee chipper will always have its place. This cedar from last Thursday went through no the chipper with no problems, the machine dragged it in and didn't stall once. The last image is of a job felling a dozen pines, at this point we gave up using the CS100 and called TomTrees with his Bandit xp65. It was not the wood that defeated the chipper, it was the amount of snedding that defeated us! Ty

Morning, I have a lump of yew branch I asked a client for. It is 40cm in diameter and the rings so close it is hard to count but I have counted around 150years. I will try again now I have read this thread using pins placed every 10years as a marker. I'll report back on it with images. Also, I recall, although I was using a sharp chain, it felt I wasn't it was so hard. Ty

Yeh but Tom, When I work for you I have to take off your slippers and tie your gaffs on before running oil into your leather 19century saw scabbard then levering you into your armour and helm because you are the great dinosaur of the arb industry at 43...hhhhhh l.o.l Ty

Your a bloody rep for G.M ain't cha! l.o.l

I'm off today, its 'another' French bank holiday 'Pentecost' I believe. Now I am a believer in employing a range of experience. Our regular groundsman is 63 years old with over 40years of arb work behind him. Rab is a former London Borough tree officer to boot and we pay him a third more than others with little or no experience. Having an older guy around with serious experience is invaluable for us in terms of development, a real sobering influence too. I have to admit, I would rather pay more taxes and retire on a decent pension than work until I'm too old to enjoy life. The French do have stupidly high taxes to pay for such a lifestyle though. We pay over 60% on profit as a limited company regardless of turnover. Now when I got my tickets at 38years of age, I was told at college by the technicians and lecturers that the chances of me finding work were slim to none. So...after trying a couple of companies here in France I started my own business. After all, clients don't always know you are new and inexperienced. You can price your jobs accordingly with a low margin or simply price correctly and allow more time until you get up to a more commercial speed. After all, if you are starting up your books won't be full so you won't have the same time constraints. Also, you can limit yourself to chasing appropriate work you can handle (small builders don't build skyscrapers eh?) If you network with others you always bring in experience at the appropriate rate. Then you can pay yourself the groundies wage instead. If your life style includes a second home in Florida and changing cars every 3 years then perhaps think again about Arb work...it 'may' not support your needs...ever! All jobs we undertake pay differently and I will inform my self employed staff in advance if the markup is low as the day rate will be affected pro-rata. I have only been told once to stuff myself and 'she' only lasted 3 days dragging brash and wanted 150euros a day! Have a good day all Ty

Morning, I was exhibiting at a garden show near St Malo on the 17th May when I overheard a chap running a plant stand was lyrical about the majestic Heracleum mantegazzianum. The French it seems are only just waking up to this toxic menace and so my protests concerning its dangers where ignored as the rantings of an Englishman abroad who has taken to much sun. I have a very real phobia of this plant, it possibly all stems from watching the BBC day of the triffids. Actually, I won't go near Gunnera either... Ty

Ah NO! Steve Bullman will arrive any minute and ban me not for writing BUM but for publishing his own companies mission statement hhhhhhh! Just having a laugh:001_rolleyes: Ty

Well... I've shown you how to do it but you still do it wrong If you don't do it right then you won't last long This job I can fill it cos any face fits Own up time, your the pits. I started out with nothing now look where I am I can do this to you cos I'm a self made man The difference between us, a question that begs Own up time, your the dregs. Now I'm sick and tired of your moaning, whining, whinging and a sighing, screaming and a crying About the rate for the job, the money I'm giving, I think you think the world owes you a living. Oh the poor ye shall always have You know that's true Its written in the bible so theres nothing you can do Except get brought down by people like you You drive me to end of my wits Your the pits Your just scum Get out of here you bum! From the album 'Hard cash' a soundtrack to a BBC series during the Thatcher epoch Regards Ty

Well, It bridges the gap between road tow and compact with its own trailer. However, we have a Lider trailer that tilts and we can load both our stumpgrinder and the CS100. Ours has 213hours on it now (fitted a tinytach from new) Also, Greenmechs customer support has been excellent regarding the few issues we've had. Its a big earner for us, with it we have the edge over our competitors on certain jobs. BUT...we do need this new road tow soon! Ty

Hello, Although I am hoping to buy a Quadchip shortly (once I have my vat number grrrr!) We have had a Timberwolf 150 out on a demo. It was a 30min demo in fact, thats all you get here! Anyway...I mentioned the non-greasable bearings and the rep showed me grease points. Have Timberwolf changed the design of was the rep pulling my manhood...? Ty

Hello, I climb the morning shift as its cooler, Seb climbs afternoons as he is genetically tuned towards heat coming from the hotter plains of Europe. Saying that, I climb afternoons and hot days in ordinary working trousers. I just work more carefully and take care to remove short sharp broken dead wood when I'm scrambling about. Also, I step more carefully when crosscutting brash etc. I think heat exhaustion is a greater risk frankly as I'm more likely to make an error with the saw. Plenty of water on hand and wash face and neck often as well as arms to help cool down and keep salt from blinding eyes. Ty

I have recently found that changing my blades before they get lose their edge at less than 20hours is better for removal. I use anti-seize grease on the threads too. Less sap and resin which tends to heat and stick with the friction of dull blades. I've bought a blowtorch for my next blade change upon the advice given on this forum. I'll let you all know soon enough how it all goes... Ty

And yet... In 2009 In cycled and camped from Melbourne to Adelaide to Port Augusta to Alice springs to Darwin before catching the Ghan back (a 3 day 2 night train journey) All those nights camping and hardly saw a beastie although I'm sure they saw me! Returned to France in Sept 2009 and within 2 weeks I was in St Brieuc hospital for 2 days and a night because I got bitten by a viper in a friends garden. My arm came up like a comedy leg and I couldn't close my hand or use my arm at all. Ty

Ah HA! My associate Seb called up a guy in our town advertising on Le Bon Coin who proposes Services Elagage but payment by CESU (cheque emploi service universal) Basically, any-one paying for services such as baby sitting, grass cutting and cleaning can claim 50% tax credit back from the government. It is strictly not to be used for anything else, after all, why would the government want to pay for peoples tree work? Its a system designed to get people off the black and into paying their way. Frankly its just being abused down the line by all and sundry. Anyway... This fellow is retired, owns 2 saws and used to work for the city of Rennes. Moves at a snails pace and has no chipper, trailer OR... insurance. And yet...he does affect our local market by pinching all the profitable small jobs and forcing us to travel further. Oh...ignore me tonight, I'm just over tired...

The French... There are 4 National holidays in May. Today, it is to celebrate the end of WW2. Last Tuesday it was to give ALL workers the day off (I worked regardless and for good money too) There are 2 more to go this month. I view the holidays as a day lost as I am not an employee Ty

Morning, My experience with Greenmech is currently limited to the CS100. My next chipper will probably be a Quadchip based on the user reports I've read. I don't need a demo to to know that the Quadchip will be be an excellent machine. Given the performance of the CS100 and the excellent customer service and spares backup I have received in 190 hours of wee chipper chipping (I put an hour clock on from new) If you have a problem with a machine you must inform the manufacturer a.s.a.p. That is the best route and the way forward when it comes to correcting faults and developing the product. Ty

It is used as a source for turpentine, possibly the earliest known source. The turpentine of the terebinth is now called Chian, Scio, or Cyprian turpentine. The fruits are used in Cyprus for baking of a specialty village bread. In Crete, where the plant is called tsikoudia, it is used to flavor the local variety of pomace brandy, also called tsikoudia. In the Northern Sporades the shoots are used as a vegetable (called tsitsírava).The plant is rich in tannin and resinous substances and was used for its aromatic and medicinal properties in classical Greece. A mild sweet scented gum can be produced from the bark, and galls often found on the plant are used for tanning leather. Recently an anti-inflammatory triterpene has been extracted from these galls.[3] In Turkey, where it is known as menengiç or bıttım, a coffee-like beverage known as menengiç kahvesi[4] is made from the roasted fruit and a soap[5] is made from the oil. Terebinth resin was used as a wine presevative in the ancient Near East.[6]

Hello, Here in Euro zone France the G.M Quadchip road tow sells for the equivalent of £19'000 without vat once you've done the exchange. The dealers are like a tight fisted union and will not move a centime from the list price. My question to you boys in the world of sterling is "How much are they?" I've actually called 2 dealers in the South of England and they never got back to me, all very cagey about selling to a company in France Frankly, its all very irritating as French chippers are stupid prices generally Regards Ty

Ah, Stumpgrinder... Your limited experience still outguns my measly knowledge. So... The friendly guy at the engineering works drilled the bolts out at last. He had to sharpen his drill bit half a dozen times! There is no corrosion present each time, its as though the resins and sap just glue the ******* in. (can you guess what bad word I used?) Next time I'm going to try a flame on the bolt heads before hand. Then it was fitting the blades outside in the rain after a long hard day... Still... beats working for the Co-op or riding a desk for a coin. Ty

Hello, Every time I change the blades I say a little prayer that the bolts holding the blades will come undone. I use a torque wrench and plenty of clever heat resistant grease now when installing the blades despite being advised not to grease the threads. Last 2 occasions have been fine but this time I went almost 30hours without a blade change when normally I go 20 odd. 3 bolts won't budge AGAIN! I am wondering if the sap as its Spring is gluing them in place? I apply GT85 before hand to penetrate but perhaps another product would do better. Anyway, the (really bad word) tool just cams out as the size is just to small for the amount of torque required to undo the bolts. So we try drilling them. This NEVER works as the bolts despite being made of cheese are still harder than the professional drill bits we bought. So AGAIN tomorrow its off to the engineering factory who sharpen the blades to get them to drill the bolts out. I'm frustrated because it should be such a simple job which I (bad word) up regularly. Am I really just a (bad word) mechanic or am I not alone here...? Any-one else have these issues? Ty

Hello, There are indeed strict regulations governing forestry work. Permissions are required to 'work' any parcel of forest over 2 hectares. Contact the local department of forestry for further info. Regards Ty

Morning... Some info I came across that some may find innneresting...or not. The link: Prix élagage : les tarifs des entreprises d'élagage quasiment incontournable, mais à quel prix ? Prix de l'élagage : différent selon le type de chantier Il n'y a a pas de tarif moyen pour un élagage car chaque chantier est une opération individuelle sur un arbre précis avec des contraintes spécifiques. Le tarif moyen d'une opération d'élagage dépend de l'action ou de la suite d'actions à réaliser ainsi que de la hauteur et de la nature de l'arbre : arbre très haut : intervention plus onéreuse que sur un arbre de taille moyenne en raison de l'équipement supplémentaire à utiliser et du temps requis pour la grimpe ; arbre enclavé à proximité d'infrastructures : requiert plus de temps et de précautions que pour un arbre isolé ; déplacement de l'élagueur, de l'entreprise d'élagage ou du bûcheron à prendre en considération : que ce soit pour accéder à un chantier perdu ou pour évoluer sur un versant escarpé ; présence d'insectes dangereux (frelons, chenilles processionnaires et urticantes) : peut obliger l'élagueur à faire appel à des intervenants supplémentaires ou à procéder à des traitements non prévisibles en temps et en budget. Un tarif horaire ou à la tâche pour le prix de l'élagage Voici quel est le tarif horaire (sur site) d'un élagueur constaté en 2011 : PRIX DE L'ÉLAGAGE : TARIF HORAIRE OPÉRATION TARIF BAS TARIF HAUT SUPPLÉMENT POSSIBLE Taille d'entretien sur arbustes et haies 25,00 € 35,00 € Enlèvement. Taille et élagage sur arbustes (<6m) 30,00 € 40,00 € Enlèvement. Taille et élagage sur arbre (6 à 10m) 35,00 € 45,00 € Débitage & enlèvement. Taille et élagage sur arbre haut (10 à 15m) 40,00 € 50,00 € Débitage & enlèvement. Taille et élagage sur arbre très haut (> 15m) 50,00 € 60,00 € Débitage & enlèvement. Voici quel est le tarif à la tâche (sur site) d'un arboriste-grimpeur ou d'un bûcheron : TARIF D'ÉLAGAGE : TARIF À LA TÂCHE OPÉRATION TARIF BAS TARIF HAUT SUPPLÉMENT POSSIBLE Taille d'un palmier 55,00 € 80,00 € Enlèvement. Démontage d'un arbre haut 600,00 € 800,00 € Location nacelle ou grue ou hélitreuillage - Débitage - Enlèvement - Dessouchage. Abattage (calculé au stère de bois abattu) 50,00 € 70,00 € Débitage - Enlèvement - Dessouchage. Les suppléments du tarif d'élagage Voici ce que l'entreprise d'élagage peut compter comme supplément : l'enlèvement des végétaux par l'entreprise, l'élagueur ou le bûcheron qui peut impliquer la location de véhicules, de broyeurs de végétaux ; la remise en déchetterie, qui est gratuite pour les particuliers, est payante pour les professionnels et se monte à plus de 30€ la tonne (vite atteinte) ; les démontages particuliers (grue ou hélicoptère) est à prendre en compte dès la rédaction d'un devis. Par contre le choix d'une nacelle pour élever le personnel sans grimpe ne doit pas être à la charge du donneur d'ordre. Négocier un tarif d'élagage : les critères Avant toute négociation, il est impératif de vérifier que l'élagueur ou le bûcheron est un professionnel titulaire : d'un numéro de SIRET ; et d'une assurance en responsabilité civile professionnelle RC PRO. Si un grimpeur ne loue pas de matériel lourd pour le démontage d'un arbre, il prend plus de risques personnels que l'élagueur qui loue une nacelle élévatrice. Attention ! La nacelle élévatrice et les engins sont des agressions pour un jardin, si l'élagueur prévoit ce type d'engins, faites inscrire dans le contrat la remise en état du terrain (pelouse, arrosage enterré...). La compétence en taille d'entretien et de structure doit être vérifiée sur des réalisations antérieures. À noter : L'auto-entreprise n'est pas du travail de moins bonne qualité que la société, mais simplement une disposition fiscale. Regards Ty

We used 2 planks to pull ours up into a van (Seb and I...) No, really, 2 light weights such as my Frenchy friend and I can easily do it. Take off the chute first and caution wet boots! We had rope hand holds to help us. Regards Ty

Hello, Last week a client asked us if we could chip a few shrubs whilst during a spruce take down. ARGH! It was as though I had a heavy cold and conjunctivitis with a handfull of itching powder down my shirt! My nose was like a running tap of snot for about 2 hours. I quickly found the cause... The client, so we got him to chip the rest! Later, he dug up the root and swore never to plant it again. Ty